Christopher Solfa: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Christopher John Solfa

City: Batavia, IL

Office sought: School Board Member - District 101

Age: 46

Family: Married with three children (high school, middle school and grade school)

Occupation: Attorney

Education: BA from North Central College and JD from DePaul University School of Law

Civic involvement: N/A

Previous elected offices held: N/A

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? N/A

Website: N/A

Facebook: N/A

Twitter: N/A

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your district and how do you intend to address them?

There are several important issues that need to be addressed in the near future. One is the fact that the contract the District has with the teachers is expiring on June 30, 2019. Unfortunately, the last contract only covered 2 years. I believe it is important to get a contract in place to ensure that the compensation structure is not only competitive, but also sustainable. It would be best for the District, teachers and students if a contract of at least 4 years can be put in place. In addition, the Board needs a master plan moving forward as it relates to the infrastructure/facilities within the District. I foresee class sizes gradually becoming smaller after the class of 2022 graduates. As such, I do not believe additional structures will be needed. However, it is very important to maintain the structures that are in place for future students. A master plan needs to be in place in that regard so that the Board can prioritize where funds will be directed and when.

How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?

I believe that District 101 has some of the best educators in the area. We need to ensure that the educators have the day-to-day resources and tools to succeed. However, education encompasses more than just curriculum. The District also needs to lead the way in being a trauma sensitive school district. Major issues that face all students today include anxiety and bullying. Staff within the District needs to be trained in restorative practices and resiliency for students. A student's emotional health is just as important as their academic prowess and must be treated as such.

What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases? Be specific.

As set forth above, two of the main budgetary issues involve a new contract between the District and the teachers and a master plan moving forward pertaining to the infrastructure and facilities within the District. Labor unrest such as was recently seen in Geneva is something that can and should be avoided. Further, the District needs to ensure that a master plan is in place, covering at least the next five years, so that funds can be appropriately allocated to the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities and infrastructure. Without such a plan, there is no direction and guidance, which can lead to unnecessary expenditures.

Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?

No.

As contract talks come up with various school employee groups - teachers, support staff, etc. - what posture should the school board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?

This issue is addressed above. The School Board serves the taxpayers who elected it. Keeping that in mind, it is within the best interests of the Board to work to ensure that students receive a good education in a safe environment that promotes mental health. None of that can be done if there is not a contract in place. In order to accomplish this, the upcoming contract negotiations will be key. As set forth above, I believe it is important to get a contract in place to ensure that the compensation structure is not only competitive, but also sustainable. This requires fiscal responsibility. Whenever one looks at contract negotiations, a successful outcome results from a series of compromises and concessions from both sides, which usually results in a "win" for all involved.

If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?

This is not something that should be supported. A member of the Board must act as the overseer and supervisor of all of the vital functions necessary in successfully maintaining an effective school district. A board member must be receptive to all information provided and utilize that information efficiently as it pertains to topics that not only arise for individual schools, but district wide. Simply "rubber stamping" a substantial increase in pay to any employee nearing retirement to help boost pension benefits would not be fiscally responsible and would be a disservice to the taxpayers in the District that elected the Board members. As a Board Member, I would act as not only an advocate for the students, but also as a protector of the tax dollars of the community.